LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm told Arkansas Democrats on Saturday that next year's election will give them a chance to highlight the differences between their party and the tea party conservatives in the GOP.

Speaking at the Arkansas Democratic Party's annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner, Granholm said Democrats can contrast their record on issues such as health care, education and job creation as they try to rebound from recent Republican gains in the state. She singled out Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor's re-election fight as one area where the party can tout that record.

"You know how important this is to the nation," Granholm said. "You know how critical this is, to not send just another tea party obstructionist to Washington."

Granholm said Democrats shouldn't allow Arkansas to be a harbinger for the rest of the country.

"We have this moment with Mark's race to have a tremendous contrast that you ca! n exploit and use to persuade," she said.

A spokesman for the state Republican Party said he believed the election would allow the GOP to highlight its contrasts with Pryor, who he argued was too closely allied with President Barack Obama.

Pryor, who is seeking a third term, doesn't have an announced opponent, but he's already been targeted by national Republican groups who view him as the Senate's most vulnerable incumbent seeking re-election. A gun control group co-chaired by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is also airing ads in the state criticizing Pryor for voting against a measure that would have expanded background checks for firearms sales.

Pryor, who's already begun airing ads for his re-election bid, shrugged off the criticism and said the outside groups were! trying to influence the state.

"They know I don't listen to the m," Pryor said at the dinner. "I listen to you."

Democrats said they expected to raise nearly $600,000 from the fundraiser. The party is trying to rebound from Republican gains in recent elections. The state GOP swept the state's four congressional seats and took control of the state Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction in the November election.